Minutes of Meeting
May 12, 2004
A meeting of the Sharon Board of Health was called to order at 7:25 P.M. on Wednesday evening, May 12, 2004,
in the Sharon Town Offices, with the following members in attendance: Chairman Anne Bingham, Vice-Chair Elizabeth Barnett, Jonathan Goldberg, and Sherwin Goodblatt. Also in attendance was Jim Andrews, Health Agent for Engineering.
Community Health Assessment Plan
Presentation prepared by nursing students from University of Massachusetts Boston ....capstone assignment for semester. Lisa Michael interned with Public Health Nurse for the semester. Sources used were local pediatrician and primary care doctors, pharmacist at CVS, Norwood hospital, Town Nurse and School Nurses.
Some highlights of report regarding town of Sharon:
* 88 percent of population is white. Per capita income $41,353 compared to state average of $25,952.
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* Vulnerable households - special needs: about 458 elders living in various housing; 214 children living with one parent.
* Cardiovascular: 38 percent of deaths in town of Sharon in 2000 were due to heart attacks.
* Most prevalent diseases in town are CAD, GERD, CHF, COPD. Large percentage of Russians in Sharon have heart disease due to heavy smoking.
* Anecdotal observations of pediatrician: Rise in obesity rate in town of Sharon for children. Less spontaneous play, bike riding, tag, etc... refers obese children to program in Boston. Increase in emotional problems. Depression, etc.... higher rates of mental illness - anorexia, bulimia and depression.
* Older population: cardiovascular, hypertension, high blood sugar and depression.
* Emergency services: 1215 runs involved cardiac arrest, chest pains and difficulty breathing.
* School nurse: obesity, stress, eating disorders, std’s and unhealthy eating in elementary school level.
* COA: danger in elders driving past age when they should give up driving. Cardiovascular main concern in Town of Sharon.
* Future recommendations include improve school lunch menu by reducing portion sizes, offer low fat, low carbohydrate alternatives (fresh fruit and vegetables), remove vending machine items high in fat.
Variance Hearing - 57 Beach Road - Septic System Repair
Small house, small lot (7000 sq.ft); ducks and herons in shallow area of lake near home. Singulair system to be used with a pump chamber. As it stands, can’t meet wetland setback; therefore asking for 40 foot variance. Existing system failed. Test pits performed. 48 inches to ground water. 3 foot separation. System will be mounded. Will remain only a 2 bedroom home.
VOTED: (Bingham/Goldberg) Bingham,Goldberg, and Barnett voted in the affirmative; Goodblatt abstained: to approve septic system repair per request dated March 25, 2004.....subject to usual restrictions - plus removal of existing converted garage. Deed restriction to limit property to 2 bedroom home.
Jonathan Goldberg left the meeting at this point.
Singer Residence - 11 Owl Drive
Jim Miller, P.E., appeared to discuss variance request......hearing scheduled for May 24th. Existing 4 bedroom home; they want to add a bedroom. When they applied to ZBA, the home was listed officially as only 3 bedroom. Lot is inside groundwater protection and house within Zone 2. Variance requested for lot area. (1.04 acres) from ZBA. Existing system not in failure; system undersized for proposed use. Title V : most likely would be approved by DEP with an alternative system. Regarding Article 7 : most likely do not have all setbacks. According to Jim Miller, Joe Kent is confident that can approve the home as a 4 bedroom. To satisfy the required 6 gallons per 1000 sq. feet of lot area required by ZBA (50% short of this) - they plan to look at surrounding area
and try to delineate water supply in that area. Jim Miller was looking for suggestions as to how he should proceed. Linda Rosen to try to facilitate a conversation with ZBA to determine correct course to take in working together with the BOH.to enforce the ZBA 6 to 1000 regulation.
50 Massapoag Avenue
David Oberlander, P.E., appraised the Board as to a potential problem. Homeowner at 50 Massapoag Avenue has scheduled an appointment before the board regarding an As-Built located near her property line. It is a mounded system which comes up from her property line. System built 2 years ago on Lake Massapoag. Abutter had her land surveyed.. Abutter insists not enough area for leaching field for this system on her neighbor’s property and she sees leaching field as on her property. Mr. Oberlander pointed out on the plan that there is 10 feet of separation; 3 to 1 slope -- Actually 20 feet from her property line. She would like a guarantee from BOH this problem will not impact sale of her home.
Metal Bellows - Light Industrial Use Facility
Peter Fontechio was present representing the company. Attorney Len Simons was the presenter.
Entity which owns Metal Bellows owns two separate lots. One is an empty vacant lot. They wish to reconfigure existing lot, sell off other lot. Hazardous waste on property - has been in remediation since 1986(21E). They are in front of ZBA because of impervious surface that may occur due to combining lots. Lot A1 will get more pervious by combining lots. Lot B2 will have less impervious surface – this is the vacant lot which will be sold. A1 should be fully compliant. The other lot will be vacant. At the time of sale, new owner will have to go through all boards to get necessary permits.
The ZBA requirement of 6 gallons per 1000 sq. feet also arises on this property. No industrial discharges at this site.
Old Business
Sheila Miller is returning to Sharon Mart next week for a follow-up inspection, since, upon 2 visits, she found the store to have a multitude of sanitary code violations. If does not meet safety standards then the department may begin process to remove licenses.
Tian Ling - Application for Massage Permit. Ms. Ling supplied list of courses taken, certificates from school... registered practicing masseuse. Elizabeth Barnett followed up by phoning the director of the school, who could not find a record of Tian Ling (or Ling Tian). Following this.....Tian Ling withdrew application. (In addition, School was not accredited but it was licensed.) Further question regarding refunding of application money if applicant withdraws application should be addressed in revised regulations. Elizabeth Barnett is working on revising regulations....chiefly using Newton regulations as a guideline.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM.
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